March 16, 2015

Recently, it was announced in a
local press report that Maine’s Department of Corrections (DOC) is planning to
construct a women’s pre-release center on the campus of the Maine Correctional
Center (MCC) campus in Windham. Many Windham-area residents expressed concerns
that the DOC was attempting to unilaterally move forward with a large-scale
construction project without the opportunity for public input by our community.
Sharing those concerns, I, along with Representatives Bryant and Corey, wrote
to the DOC urging them to move swiftly in organizing public forums for the
Windham-area community.

I am happy to say that after
meeting with the Commissioner of the DOC, he was understanding and apologetic;
and, he agreed to delay final decisions on the entire project until there was
an opportunity for public comment. To that end, he has scheduled three public
meetings: March 18th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Maine Correctional
Center; March 21st from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Windham Town Hall; and March
28th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Windham High School.

Public forums are a central
component of any project undertaken by a public entity. It’s an opportunity for
the public to participate in a conversation about the changes to their
community.

There’s no doubt that
constructing a $10 million building that houses 78 inmates will create a
significant impact on the area. As a former long-time member of the state’s
Criminal Justice Committee, I know it is important to provide opportunity for
prisoners to gain life skills and further their education before they are
reintegrated to the community. But I realize that my experience and knowledge
base with criminal justice issues is unique.

So, I encourage each of you to
participate in the process--whether it’s just by attending to learn more about
the project and more about what MCC does--or coming with your list of questions
and concerns. Either way, it is through your involvement, that we ensure our
community reflects our preferences. If you can’t make it, please feel
free to contact me at diamondhollyd@aol.comor (207) 287-1515
with any feedback or concerns that you may have.

Also, a quick congratulations and thank you to Maine’s
Department of Transportation (MDOT) for repairing Babb’s Bridge so quickly and
three months ahead of schedule. You may remember, the bridge was damaged by a
hit and run driver who caused pretty significant damage. We all appreciate the
MDOT’s attention and cooperation.

After being vacant for years, The
Landing Restaurant was demolished Tuesday, clearing the lot for future use.

The property is owned by Deering
Investments Inc. care of John J. Peters, Jr. The building was constructed in
1989 as a Sizzler Restaurant and was converted to The Landing Restaurant in
2005, but later closed.

“Nothing is going in right away,” said
Windham Economic Development director Tom Bartell. “They couldn’t find a match
[for the building],” he said.

The property with 6,098 square feet of
floor space was valued at $785,100 in 2014. The land is worth $214,900,
according to the town’s assessment website. It is possible that the land could
be leased or sold in the future, Bartell said.

“While the citizens support many things…they
also said they want to keep taxes reasonable. That can be a conflicting
message” – Joe Bruno, Raymond Select
Board

Uplifting was the word
Raymond Select Board member Sam Gifford used to describe the results of a
recent community survey that found residents to be relatively happy with their
quality of life and town services (Survey reveals overall satisfaction in
Raymond – The Windham Eagle, Feb. 27). Administered and analyzed in late 2014
by the research and consulting firm Pan Atlantic SMS Group of Portland, the
conclusions revealed an overall satisfaction on such matters as police, fire
and rescue; public works; trash collection; and town hall and other various
departments.

The
survey instrument also examined residents’ feelings on taxes, new programs and
the possible expansion of current services. Nearly 40 percent of respondents
were against any tax increase or did not favor additional services or new
projects. However, just over 31 percent indicated they might consider a one or
two percent increase for certain additional services, chiefly in the areas of
conservation (open space, milfoil eradication), library (expanded funding
contribution for the Raymond Village Library), economic development (jobs,
expanded economic base), and alternative high speed internet and/or providers
(e.g. fiber optics). An additional 23 percent of respondents said they would
consider tax hikes above two percent.

Selectman
Joe Bruno said the survey shows that citizens are happy with the direction of
the town, “but when asked how much of a tax increase (they are) willing to pay,
the result didn’t match up with the amount of services wanted. I don’t want to
take the survey and use it to justify higher spending, which is a big concern
of mine.”

Board
member Teresa Sadak said the survey helps show that “the town would like to
grow, but (wants to) find inventive ways to keep taxes low.” For Sadak the
biggest surprise in the results concerned the degree of unhappiness with the
RSU consolidation with Windham, “I knew people were not happy but (the survey)
really showed how unhappy.”

Bruno,
who chairs a committee looking into the dissolution of the school unit,
likewise seemed dismayed at the degree of dissatisfaction saying, “I’m hoping
our representatives to the RSU look at that and try to make things better and
more equitable for Raymond citizens.” The two towns will vote March 18 on a change
to the cost sharing formula used to support schools in the RSU. The current
proposal would lessen Raymond’s financial obligation over three years.

John
Rand, head of the Raymond Conservation Commission, said he was pleased to hear
about the citizen support for open space and other environmental projects,
“That’s why people move Raymond,” he said, and added he hopes for continued
support of the Raymond Community Forest, a 350 acre forest management project
in North Raymond.

Sally
Holt, director of the Raymond Village Library, wasn’t too surprised with the
survey support for the enhancement of library services. She said she’s been
hearing it from patrons for quite some time, and added, “The library should
thrive and transition.”

In
addition to the overall positive results of the community survey, Select Board
member Gifford, who heads the Raymond Revitalization Committee, said he was
also pleased to hear the level of support for economic development. He said
people need to be aware of the survey results to help influence the long range
vitality of the community.

March 1, 2015

Daniel S. Milliken Quarter Gunner on the
USS New Ironsides was award the Nation’s highest military honor, the Medal of
Honor, in 1870 for his heroic deeds on the USS New Ironsides during the Battle
for Fort Fisher on December 25, 1864 and from Jan 13th through Jan
15th of 1865. After the Civil War, Daniel Milliken married in Aug of
1866 a Raymond girl, Ezelia Edwards, and moved to Raymond, Maine, to become a
farmer. It is noted that he was hospitalized in Togus in 1890 and died of
consumption in 1899.

Today, Daniel Milliken is remembered
with only a simple VA white marble stone in Riverside Cemetery in Raymond, with
his name and the date of his death in 1899. Little more. But a lot more is
known about Daniel that beguiles the simple setting in the cemetery. A National
Medal of Honor Organization (that prefers no publicity) contacted the Town of
Raymond a few years back with the thought of recognizing Daniel Milliken for
his honored status. The appropriate paperwork was submitted to the VA. Due to
changes in submission requirements, the VA did not honor the request.

Now, moving forward to January 2015 when
that same organization contacted the Local Field-Allen American Legion Post 148
in Windham (which has many Raymond members) and requested help in recognizing
Daniel Milliken and honoring him with an appropriate marker on his grave in
Riverside Cemetery. To that end the Field-Allen Post has garnished additional
Veterans support from the Local VFW 10643 Post as well as the Windham and
Raymond/Casco Historical Societies and the Town of Raymond to honor this
request. Plans are in their infancy, but, the following actions will be
accomplished with veteran and hopefully local public support:

One: Design and cut an appropriate
footstone with an image of the USS New Ironsides (The first US Battleship) and
a replication of the Medal of Honor surrounded by information about Daniel and
the Battle of Fort Fisher.

Two: hold a suitable public honors and
recognition ceremony for this local hero at Riverside Cemetery when the stone
is to be installed.

Three: Have a GAR marker installed at
the grave to recognize Daniel Milliken as a Civil War Veteran.

Hopefully all this can come together
around Memorial Day 2015.

To date over $300.00 has been pledged to
meet this goal with several organizations still to donate. The estimated cost
for the memorial is $1,200.00. Public donations from the Windham/Raymond area
may be made in support of this most worthy project to: American Legion Post
148, PO Box 1776, Windham ME 04062 (Medal of Honor fund) or, see Raymond Town
Clerk Sue Look.